We have a date with Dora!

On Saturday we are going to see 'Dora the Explorer Live' in Newcastle. Alex is a HUGE fan and Sophie enjoys it too. Me? Well, its ok I suppose. Educational and one of the less irritating programmes. One of Alex's first words was 'Backpack'!

I scrapped that photo

Looking at photographs again

I cropped this one and I am going to scrap it tonight. Watch this space for how it turns out.

So many visitors

So many people have come to see Nigel's montage. Thank you for watching it, and I am sorry if it upset you.
Nigel was a wonderful man, and I miss him so very much. I wish we had had longer together, but it wasn't to be. I have many fond memories of our six years as Mr and Mrs Head. And of course I have the lovely girls to remind me of him each and every day. Where would I be without them?

I posted on mumsnet
asking where people were ten years ago. Lots of great answers, so if you have a blog, why not write about where you were.

Ten years ago I lived in Enschede, a small town in the east of the Netherlands. I was there for a year as part of my music degree at Leeds University. I lived in Macandra, a huge student flat block, and I had an absolute ball. I celebrated my 21st birthday within days of arriving, and boy did we celebrate in style!

New Montage

I made a new montage of Nigel.

Shopping, shopping, shopping

Went up to the Great Northern Papercraft thingy yesterday. Saw lots of UKS sponsors and Art from the Heart, makers of the lovely Blonde Moments papers. Sophie got a certificate of merit for good work at school on Friday, so I said she could choose some craft stuff. She chose the Blonde Moments doll stamps, set me back £25 with some book rings thrown in for good measure too!
Once we've had a chance to do some I'll post them here.
My best friend from school has been here this weekend. Sad she's gone now :(
Am planning some scrapping tonight to make up for it tho.

School Photos today

Sophie had hers taken and brought home the proof this evening.
What a little beauty! Can't wait to get the full size prints, just need to decide which package to order.
Decisions decisions!
Got my friend Jo staying at the moment. Already had a yummy chinese takeaway and breakfast at Ikea tomorrow morning is planned!

Time to choose a headstone

Not much happening here. I have been and chosen Nigel's headstone, it will be in Bahama Blue (aka navy!) granite. Full polish with gilded lettering. Simple words on it as Nigel wasn't one for frilly. I am going to go and see him in a bit so will post more later.

My inspiration

Blogger prompt on UKS

As set by JaneH, yesterday but I didn't get round to it.

What's your creative process? Where do you get your inspiration? How do you like to work? What really gets the juice flowing for you? What do you do if it stops? What inhibits your creativity?

I'm going to answer this a bit out of order.
My inspiration is mostly my 2 gorgeous girls. They are everything to me, and I want them to have great memories to look back on. They especially need memories of their Daddy, as already life is moving on for them. I like to work without interruption other than chat from fellow scrappers. When I'm on my own I put music on and away I go. Looking through my photographs can help get the juices going, as can buying new designs of paper with a certain photo in mind.
Scrapping has been difficult for me lately. I have really lacked the desire to scrap anything personal. I want to scrap Nigel, but I just can't. To put down memories of him on paper, using the past tense, is just too painful yet. Its not as if I am kidding myself that he will come back. I know he's gone. I just need to come round to making pages about someone who was so crucial in my life but isn't there any more.
Today I went to a crop. Mum and dad looked after the girls. I had to scrap, well, I didn't have to but for the first time in ages I felt I wanted to. If I don't feel the desire to scrap, I watch telly, surf the net, anything which doesn't need much concentration. I can't read books yet, that requires too much concentration just now. Only scrapping makes me concentrate.
My life at the moment is what inhibits my creativity. But like I said earlier today, I have broken the block, and now I need to make sure I scrap regularly to stop it disappearing again.

Scrapper's Block is No More!

Broke my Scrapper's Block today!





These two LO helped me break my block. First is one of Sophie, the picture I posted on the day she started school. This layout means so much. It is bittersweet too as Nigel so wanted to be there.

The second is of my team mate on UKS, Lana. We swapped pics within the team and scrapped them for each other. Hope you like it Lana. If you don't, then tough!

Grommets anyone?

Alex has grommets.

We went to the Clarendon Wing today and Alex is now the proud owner of a pair of grommets. The operation went like a dream and Alex was very well looked after by the staff on ward 58. She was so good when she had the anaesthetic, just let them put the canula in and off she went.

Thank goodness that is over with!

Off to the hospital we go

Big Day Today

Alex is having her grommets fitted, a week earlier than expected. So keep us in your prayers today please!

Photograph trauma is over

The CD arrived of the photographs with Nigel on.



This is my favourite and I will get a decent sized print of this done once finances allow.
Boy do I miss him.

Photograph Trauma

Today was a bit traumatic. In December last year we had some photographs taken at a photographer's here in Leeds. At the time we didn't have enough money to buy a family portrait as well as one of each of the girls.
After Nigel's death I decided to go back and see if I could buy the photographs on CD to keep. And maybe one or two photographs. The original company had gone into liquidation but the new company still had the photographs. Initially they refused to let me buy the photos on CD.
At that point I sobbed. For the first time since Nigel died. I was absolutely devastated. I can only hope that the new photography company had thought I was trying to pull a fast one when I went in on Friday.
Anyway, I sobbed to the office girl and then later to the director. So they have agreed to put the photographs with Nigel on onto a CD, and even better they are doing it for free! Plus prints of all of the shots of Nigel.
I am so sorry they felt they needed to deny me access to the photos initally. Did they think I had made it up about Nigel's death? Horrible to think that anyone would do such a thing. Why on earth would I lie about my husband dying?
All's well that ends well, just waiting for the CD and prints to arrive now.

All quiet on the western front

Heather and Erin have gone, seems very quiet without them. The girls are having a lazy afternoon and I am doing laundry, tidying the kitchen and other boring stuff like that.
Tonight I am filling in forms for life assurance. I have literally mountains to do! Wish me luck.

Gorgeous New Papers!

New Blonde Moments Papers are Divine!!


Here's a little hint of the new Blonde Moments Festive Feast papers. Sorry its so small but as they're not on general release yet I don't want to upset anyone by posting this here, especially not Dyan after the help she gave me this afternoon. I came away from Art from the Heart with a chipboard book and dividers to start an album about Nigel. I knew I didn't want to do 12x12 so this seems a great idea.

Tagged

I've been tagged by my good friend Heather, so here goes:

1. If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be?
Portugal, on the cliffs near Alvor, overlooking the sea.

2. What's your favorite article of clothing?
Do shoes count? My crocs then.

3. Favorite physical feature of the opposite sex?
A lovely smile.

4. What's the last CD that you bought?
KT Tonstall

5. Where's your favorite place to be?
Anywhere with my girls

6. Where's your least favorite place to be?
Old Trafford. Yuck.

7. What's your favorite place to be massaged?
Head, especially if its an Indian head massage

8. Strong in mind or strong in body?
Bit of both but stronger in mind atm.

9. What time do you wake up in the morning?
early. My kids don't like to lie in!

10. What is your favorite Kitchen appliance?
Senseo coffee maker, makes ace coffee

11. What makes you really angry?
people who tell me I should find my birth parents when I have no need to.

12. If you could play an instrument what would it be?
Play lots already but would love to learn the drums.

13. Favorite colour?
Blue

14. Sports car or SUV?
SUV

15. Do you believe in an afterlife?
Not sure

16. Favorite children's book?
Stormbreaker

17. What's your favorite season?
Summer, when the weather is good!

18. What is your least favorite household chore?
ironing. Yawn.

19. If you could have one super-power, what would it be?
super strength

20. If you have a tattoo what is it?
not got one. Yet.

21. Can you juggle?
Yes

22. The one person from your past that you wish you could go back and talk to?
That would have to be my husband Nigel, even tho he is only recent past. I would give everything I have for 5 minutes with him.

24. What's in the boot of your car?
fabric conditioner
cardstock
stamps
coats
wellies

25. Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger?
sushi mmmm

My layouts

A few of my favourites

First Day at School

It was Sophie's first day at school today and she loved it! I was more nervous than she was as Nigel had been so looking forward to taking her. I had a real lump in my throat as I dropped her off but I didn't cry. I know Nigel would love to have been there.
Anyway, Sophie did us proud. She enjoyed every minute, ate all of her school dinner, and had a great time at playtime.

Spa time

Good day yesterday. Went to Spa 1877 in Sheffield. The girls went to my brother's in Manchester and had a ball.
Today I am tired and the house is untidy. So I need to get that sorted before doing some scrapping and breaking the block.